Weonia NFMR Project

The Weonia NFMR Project is a native forest regeneration project located on the "Weonia" pastoral station, approximately 20km west of the township of Bollon in Southwest Queensland. Registered on March 15, 2024, the project encompasses a significant area of 12,528.9 hectares. The region is traditionally utilized for extensive grazing of sheep and cattle, characterized by its semi-arid climate and "mulga lands" vegetation.

The project operates under the Native Forest from Managed Regrowth (NFMR) methodology. This approach focuses on regenerating native forests on land that was previously cleared for pastoral use. Instead of planting new trees, the project facilitates the regrowth of trees from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers. To achieve this, the proponent must cease mechanical or chemical clearing activities and strictly manage the timing and extent of livestock grazing to prevent the suppression of emerging vegetation.

Environmentally, the Weonia property sits in a region receiving an average annual rainfall of approximately 450mm. The landscape is described as a mix of open buffel grass paddocks and strong stands of low mulga, typically situated on red earth soils common to the Maranoa and Balonne districts. The property relies on the Paterson watercourse for seasonal waterholes and utilizes artesian bores for stock water.

An interesting facet of this project is its ownership structure. The proponent, Pastoral Partners Australia (PPA), is backed by the New Zealand infrastructure investor Morrison & Co. PPA acquired the Weonia and Sunset Valley aggregation in late 2023 for an estimated $30 million. Unlike traditional graziers, PPA does not own the livestock on the property; instead, they employ a model that combines carbon sequestration with agistment, leasing the grazing rights to local farmers while managing the land to ensure forest regeneration targets are met.